Split testing is defined as the process of testing a live website in order to identify the most effective headlines and text. This method is employed by most of the websites to figure out their most effective online version.

This strategy is extremely powerful in improving the effectiveness of websites and increasing user turn over. The steps involved in the process of split testing are as follows:-

A/B Testing in WordPress

1. Determination of the type of experiment

The first step involves determining the type of experiment to be performed. In Google optimizer there are two available options, being Multivariate testing and A/B testing respectively.

Multivariate testing is used for testing a number of things simultaneously. It is used by websites for finding which layouts and advertisements copy work. On the other hand, A/B testing is used for finding the best copy out of the two being tested.

It is conducted by starting variations on different pages, driving some traffic and then witnessing which copy converts the traffic statistically in the most effective manner.

2. Designing experimental flow

Now, you need to decide which page you want to test. It is mandatory that your page has a specific goal which you want the users to achieve. However, it is extremely important that you must just change a single entity at a time and keep rest of the page unchanged.

If changes are made in this format, they lead to improvement. This will provide you with a clear idea about the essential changes and you can keep tracking it in future.

3. Designing of the test page

You need to login WordPress and create a new page. Now copy the same text from the initial page and paste it. Click “publish” and change only the headline keeping every other detail constant. In order to keep a track of the URL’s of the two test pages, you must work in Google’s optimizer.

4. Designing of the goal page

The goal page is a hidden entity. It becomes visible only when the user signups for the free e book. So don’t compromise on it’s design even a bit. It’s as important as designing the test page.

5. Installation of Google website optimizer plug in

The plug-in is required for the installation of the java script. It gives user a random page at a time and then checks its accessibility to the goal page. The installation of this plug-in is very easy.

All you need to do is to login your administrator’s console and add new in the plug-in drop down box. Having a Google account is one of the pre-requisites. After this, set up the optimizer experiment.

6. Installation of the optimizer code

Next step is to acquire the code to embed in your page. Open WordPress and access the initial page created by you. Enable Google Optimizer, and add control and tracking script simultaneously.

Save this post and access your second page. Add only the tracking script now. Save this and open the goal page now. Add the conversion script finally.

7. Running the experiment and checking the result

Run the experiment for atleast 100 conversions and keep checking the results. It’s essential to analyse each result carefully so that you get a fair idea of what’s going right & what’s not.

8. Keep the process going

In order to improve the sales; it is important that you keep experimenting. Split testing is one of those processes which everyone claims to perform but very few actually carry it out.

However, if you want to be a top class affiliate marketer, it is very important that you carry out the process of split testing effectively and seriously by following the above mentioned steps.

So do you follow steps while split testing or just randomly do things ?